The gallbladder is a pear-shaped sac, about 7-10 cm long, that lies in a fossa on the underside of the liver. It stores and concentrates the bile made by the liver and holds about 30-50 mL. It has a fundus, body and neck, and its neck continues as the cystic duct.
| Location | In the gallbladder fossa on the visceral surface of the liver, between the right lobe and the quadrate lobe; fundus near the tip of the right ninth costal cartilage |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Nerve Supply | Coeliac plexus (sympathetic and visceral pain); Vagus nerve (parasympathetic); Right phrenic nerve (referred shoulder pain) |
| Blood Supply | Cystic artery (usually from the right hepatic artery) |
| Venous drainage |
|
| Lymphatic drainage |
|
Stores bile between meals, concentrates it by absorbing water and salts, and contracts in response to cholecystokinin to release it into the duodenum.
Its fundus lies behind the tip of the right ninth costal cartilage, where tenderness on deep breathing (Murphy sign) suggests acute cholecystitis. Gallstones are very common, especially with age, female sex and obesity, and cause biliary colic, cholecystitis, cholangitis or pancreatitis. Pain from the gallbladder can be referred to the right shoulder tip via the phrenic nerve.
Hardened deposits of cholesterol or bile pigment that may be silent or cause biliary colic when they block the gallbladder neck.
Inflammation of the gallbladder, usually from a stone blocking the cystic duct, causing constant right upper quadrant pain, fever and a positive Murphy sign.
Uncommon aggressive cancer linked to long-standing gallstones, often found late or incidentally after cholecystectomy.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
